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England's star bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt has made it clear that the semifinal clash against South Africa in the Women's T20 World Cup was her last dance in the World Cup. England's campaign at the Women's T20 World Cup 2023 came to a screeching halt as they suffered a six-run defeat at the hands of South Africa in the semi-final match on Friday (February 24). However, the 37-year-old remained wicket-less on her last World Cup appearance.
“I've been thinking about retirement daily for two years,” Katherine admitted.
“It used to be after every tour, I'd question what I was doing. But as it's drawn closer, I've thought about it a bit more seriously and it does creep into your mind when you're training, mainly because of the pressure other people put on you. The media do like to keep tabs on you. Are you close to the end? Is your body holding up? You get all those comments and then you start to think, ‘Oh, am I slowing down? Should I stop? Am I embarrassing myself?,” Brunt said.
Meanwhile, Sciver-Brunt has not made any decision on her playing future beyond the current T20 World Cup, where hosts South Africa will take on defending champions Australia in the final on Sunday after a six-run victory over England in their semi-final. England are due to host Australia in the Women's Ashes this summer.
“I've always said I would like to retire on top, where I'm still wanted, I'm still picked in the first 11, I'm not less than what I used to be. That's how I've felt in the last six months, those things are starting to creep in where I can see somebody taking my role and doing it just as well. This is definitely the last World Cup and beyond this point, I'm fairly close to it all being along the same line, so it won’t be long,” she further said.
At this World Cup, Sciver-Brunt played under a new name following her marriage to teammate Nat Sciver, but there is another title she hopes she has always been known by.
She added: “Looking back on my career, I'd like to think I was Mrs. Consistent.
“I’d like to be remembered as someone who was always at the top of my game and always contributing for my country, helping us in a winning cause and giving everything I had.
“The new name is a bit of a mouthful, isn't it? The good thing is Nat can carry on my name, the legacy of Brunt will carry on which is great.
“Having my name associated with hers is also great because she's a bit of a legend in her own right now.”
Katherine came in for criticism during England's semi-final defeat for berating younger team-mates for fielding errors. She claimed four wickets in five matches at the tournament, at an average of 30.75 and economy rate of 7.53. She leaked 19 runs in the final over of the group match against India, where her figures were 0 for 39 from three overs, and 18 off the final over as South Africa set a target of 165 on Friday, when she took 0 for 33 from four overs.
Katherine may wish to forget her last game at a World Cup, going for 33 runs from her four overs before falling first ball in the run chase.
But there were bright moments, an excellent diving catch to dismiss the Tazmin Brits for 68, proving she is still nimble despite being in the last few months of her 19-year career.
In 2017, she was part of the side that reclaimed the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in front of a sell-out crowd at Lord’s and it was on the famous balcony where her proudest achievement began. During England’s celebrations, Katherine asked Nat Sciver to be her girlfriend and she would later ask her to be her wife with the two marrying in May last year.
Katherine is still struggling to imagine life without cricket, and without Nat by her side every day.
“You've always got to believe there is someone out there for you, but when you're so encapsulated in what you do, everything gets set aside,” she said.
“But if it's going to happen, it will happen naturally. I didn't realise the kind of person I needed to be with, and Nat was a person unlike anybody I've ever been with before.
“A lot of people say, ‘how does she put up with you?’ She has patience in abundance and empathy and she understands me and loves me for who I am.
“We just work really well together and complement each other, and there is never a day where we want to be apart.
“Coming into my retirement, she will be gone, but hopefully the ECB will take me along. I'll be slinging in the nets to all of them!” Katherine concluded.
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